Sample-case having link-connected trays.



W. SGHWEITZER & H. H. LABADIE.

SAMPLE CASE HAVING LINK OONNEGTED TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1912.

1,081,629. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. SCHWEITZER & H. H. LABADIB. SAMPLE CASE HAVING LINK CONNECTED TRAYS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1912.

1,081,629, I Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. SGHWBITZER & H. H LABADIE.

SAMPLE CASE HAVING LINK CONNECTED TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1912 1 081 629 Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

' case.

FFTQ.

WILLIAM SOHWEITZER AND HARRY H. LABADIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAMPLE-CASE HAVING LINK-CONNECTED TRAYS.

T 0 aZZ whom it may c0ncern Be it known that we, VILLIAM SoHwEIT- ZER and HARRY HAMILTON LABADIE, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new, useful, and eflicient Improvements in Sample-Cases Having Link-Connected Trays; and we do hereby declare that the following description of our said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has general reference to improvements in sample cases having link connected trays, and it consists, essentially, in the novel. and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the sheets of drawings already referred to, which serve to illustrate our said invention more fully, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our sample case with the link con nected trays extended to expose their contents. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the outer casing of the case opened, but with the link connected trays closed together and superimposed upon each other. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the case entirely closed and ready to be carried about. Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse section in line 00 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section of a fragment of the case, taken in the direction of the arrow pointers, in line 11 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is also a section of a fragment of the case, taken in the direction of the arrow pointers, in line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Like parts are designated by corresponding characters and symbols of reference in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention, we provide our case with a lower outer section A, which section has a bottom 1, ends 2 and 3, and a back 4. The height of this section is practically one-half the total height of the To the upper edge of the back 4 is hinged a top, outer section B, which section is provided with a back 5, ends 6 and 7 and Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed August 5, 1912.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Serial No. 713,438.

a top 8, hinges 9, Fig. 4, being employed to hinge said backs 4: and 5 together. When said top section B is closed over the bottom section A, the backs 4t and 5 will present a plane exterior and interior surface, in which case the ends 2 and 6 and 3 and 7, respectively, will abut along their free, horizontal edges, and will also present plane surfaces. To render these edges watertight, we form a groove 10, Fig. 5, along the top edge of each of the ends 2 and 3, into which is adapted to snugly fit a tongue 11, formed along the corresponding edge of each of the ends 6 and 7.

Along the exterior, free, perpendicular edges of the ends 2 and 3 of the lower sec tion A, and the corresponding edges of the ends 6 and 7 of the top section B, and also along the free, horizontal edge of the top 8, on the exterior thereof, are produced rabbets 12, 13, 14, which rabbets are so arranged that when the two sections A and B are closed together, a continuous rabbet is produced along the two edges and top of the case as a whole.

For the front of the bottom section A, is provided a narrow strip 15, which strip is in contact with the bottom 1, and, to which strip is hinged, by means of hinges 16, 17, a cover 18. Said cover is provided with marginal flanges 19, 20, 21 along its three free edges, which flanges engage snugly with the rabbets 12, 13, 14 on the body sections. The top 8 is possessed of a handle 22, by which the case may be carried about, and, also provided thereon are clasps 23, engaging catches 24 on the cover 18, whereby said cover may be locked to the top section B. The various corners of the cover, and top and bottom sections are protected by the usual type of metallic corner protectors 25, and wherever it seems necessary to stiffen the ends 2, 3, 6, or 7 bracing angles 25 are employed. The exterior of the cover, the top, and the bottom sections, and their interior walls as well, are covered with imitation leather or leatherette 26, properly ap plied and glued in place, so that when closed, our sample case presents a smooth, neat exterior, and being flat, and of oblong contour, cannot be distinguished from the ordinary suit case, as is evidenced by a reference to Fig. 3.. This narrow, flat construction is an important feature, as a traveler can carry such a case, containing considerable weight, without interference with walk ing, and with much less fatigue and discomfort, than would be possible wit-h a sample case of. the usual type of construction.

lVithin the outer, lower section A, adjacent to the end 2 and the end 3, respectively, and resting upon the bottom 1, are flat, metallic plates 30, which plates are fixed to, though spaced from, said ends by suitable rivets 31, there being sufficient room between said plates and said ends to receive the lower extremities of links 32, which links are hingedly fastened to said plates by pins or rivets 33. The upper ends of these links are attached to end walls 34, 85 of a tray C in such a manner that said tray may be swung upwardly and outwardly from a horizontal position within the lower section A to a horizontal position practically without said section. l/Vhen within said section, the bottom of said tray is adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the plates 30, while, when swung outwardly, it is supported upon the upper edges of the strip 15, located in the front of the lower section A. This tray C is of a size practically equal to the interior outline of the lower section A, and is surmounted by a plurality of similar trays D, the top edge of the uppermost of which trays projects slightly above the top edges of the end walls 2 and 3 when said trays are superimposed upon each other within the case. All of these trays C and D are connected together by link bars 50, 51, whereby each tray may be swung out beyond the one underneath to expose the contents of the latter, or swung inwardly until said tray rests squarely upon the one next below. WVhen all the trays D are swung inwardly over each other, and the tray G is similarly swung in and resting upon the bars 30, the entire interior of the lower section A will be occupied by a vertical tier of trays in a manner easily comprehended. The specific construction of the links 50 and 51, and their arrangement in relation to the trays is disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent granted to us on December 15, 1908, numbered 906,568, and, therefore, it will be unnecessary to go further into a detailed description of the same.

To the inner sides of the end walls 2 and 3 of the lower section A, at their upper edges thereof, and projecting therebeyond, are riveted or otherwise fastened flat, metallic, rectangular plates 52 and 53, to the upper edges of which are hingedly attached, by means of rivets 83 link bars 32 the opposite ends of which link bars are similarly connected to end walls 84: of a tray C. Said tray G is so hinged that, when in its inward or normal position, it rests with its bottom upon the top edges of the uppermost tray D, of the tier of trays located in the lower section A of the case, while when swung outwardly,

' said bottom will be supported upon the top edge of the back 4t, as clearly seen in Fig. l. Surmounting this tray 0, is a series of similar trays D, all of which are connected together by link bars 50 and 51*, precisely in the same manner as the lower tier of trays C and D are connected to each other, and which trays C and D operate in a similar way, except that they swing outwardly in a direction directly opposed to that of said trays C and D. The trays C and D, when swung inwardly, rest with their bottoms, respectively, squarely upon the top edges of the tray next below, and it is therefore obvious that the bottom of the tray C will rest squarely upon the top edge of the uppermost tray D of the tier below. It will thus be evident, by a reference to Fig. 2, that when both sets of trays C, D, and C, D, are swung inwardly, a continuous vertical tier of trays will be formed, the width of which tier will be the equality of the width of a single tray; the length of which, the length of a single tray, and the height of which, the sum of the depths o-r thicknesses of all the trays.

The total height of the tier of trays C and D is made such that when the same are swung inwardly over the lower tier, the hinged, outer top section B may be swung over the said upper tier, after which the cover 18 may be closed upon the sections A and B and locked in place by the clasps 23 engaging the catches 24.

Having thus fully described our invention, we desire to secure to us by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A sample case including an outer casing having a bottom, back, ends and a narrow strip at its front, plates secured to the upper portions of the ends and extending above the latter, a series of movably connected trays pivotally supported from said plates, plates connected to the lower end portions of the casing ends, a second series of movably connected trays pivotally connected to the last named plates and being movable across the upper side of said narrow strip, a section hinged to the back, and a cover hinged to the strip and adapted to engage the ends of the outer casing and the hinged section.

2. A sample case including an outer casing having a bottom, back, ends and a narrow strip at its front, a series of movably ond series of movably connected trays pivset our hands in the presence of tWo subotally connected to the lower portions of the scribing Witnesses.

ends and bein movable across the upper side of the narFow strip, a section hinged to the back, and a cover hinged to the strip and adapted to engage the outer casing and In the presence of the hinged section. FRIEDA T. LEBnRsTEIN, In testimony whereof We have hereunto WILLIAM O. STARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

